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Book What are you reading?

I'm finishing the autobiography of the naturalist Chris Packham titled "Fingers in the Sparkle Jar" which is interesting as it was written in the first and third person. Unlike most biographies, he talks about his life via his obsessions while growing up during his childhood and teenage years. Recently ordered the late Dalton Fury's book "Kill Bin Laden" via Book Depository. However, I have tonnes of other books on my shelf too so... Choices choices choices haha :P
 
My ticket to day-off relaxation has arrived! My very own copy of Lockheed P-80/F-80 Shooting Star: A Photo Chronicle by David R. McClaren.

IMG_0780.webp

So good.
 
My humble self is currently re-reading "In The Shadow Of The Sword" by Tom Holland. Strongly recommend it. Someone uploaded the entire audiobook onto YT. Not that i'm suggesting you download it, or something along those lines;)

Holland manages to retell history in an almost George R.R. Martin-like fashion. Historical evidence and sources presented in a very narrative tone.

There are so many examples of religious ideology influencing late antiquity, that I had no idea even existed, it just boggles the mind. Some zealous muslim nuts immediately attacked his work of course. But it's difficult to dismiss a guy who has written so many compelling works recognised by peers and laymen alike. Have never gotten around to read his "Rubicon", gotta get my hands on that.
 
Don Camillo Omnibus by Giovanni Guareschi - Have not stopped laughing since starting it. Set in a small village in Italy, the story revolves around a Priest Don Camillo and his nemisis, the Commie Mayor Peppone. In the midst of trying to one up each other, Don Camillo regularly turns to God to either plead his case for reacting to Peppones provocations or excuses his ill behaviour after the fact.
 
Finished a re-read of Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire about a month ago and now reading his The Journey Home, A Defense of the American West.

I'm also dabbling in Drout's Quick and Easy Old English after reading some of Tolkien's work on Old English.
 
I have decided to reread books I already have that I have forgotten about.

Reread "history of the Arab people" from Albert Hourani during my days off. And am now rereading "Americans in Paris", a book on the Americans who stayed in Paris during the german occupation in WWII.
 
I finished reading one of the books in the saga of "the adventures of Captain Alatriste", it is called "the gold of the King"; I already bought on EBay the book that follows "the gentleman of the yellow doublet".
 
Nancy said:
Don Camillo Omnibus by Giovanni Guareschi - Have not stopped laughing since starting it. Set in a small village in Italy, the story revolves around a Priest Don Camillo and his nemisis, the Commie Mayor Peppone. In the midst of trying to one up each other, Don Camillo regularly turns to God to either plead his case for reacting to Peppones provocations or excuses his ill behaviour after the fact.
Click to expand...

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Don Camilo's story is spectacular, Guareschi manages to make an interesting and comic story with traces of drama and a lot of humanity; The best thing is that it is based on a true priest who fought with partisans in World War II; if you have a chance look for the movies starring Fernandel.
 
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright.

HBO made a documentary of this a few years ago and I was fascinated by how bonkers it was. Anyway, finally bought the book and yeah, it's still bonkers. Only a third of the way through it and a lot of the actual explanations of Scientology "beliefs" have gone straight over my head but seeing some of the stuff they've attempted over the years, such as "Operation Freakout" is frankly, scary.

It's strangely fascinating reading about L Ron Hubbard - for the life of me, I can't figure out if he was just a liar and fraudster or if he really believed in what he was peddling.
 
Gaz said:
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright.

HBO made a documentary of this a few years ago and I was fascinated by how bonkers it was. Anyway, finally bought the book and yeah, it's still bonkers. Only a third of the way through it and a lot of the actual explanations of Scientology "beliefs" have gone straight over my head but seeing some of the stuff they've attempted over the years, such as "Operation Freakout" is frankly, scary.

It's strangely fascinating reading about L Ron Hubbard - for the life of me, I can't figure out if he was just a liar and fraudster or if he really believed in what he was peddling.
Click to expand...

Louis Theroux did a good movie about them as well.
 
downsizer said:
Louis Theroux did a good movie about them as well.
Click to expand...

Haven't seen that one, will have to see if it's on any of the streaming services.

Random fact - there's an excellent chance I'm in the background of his wedding pictures. ABout seven or eight years ago I went to see Soundgarden in Hyde Park and as we walked there past some kind of local council offices a wedding party came out and we stopped to stare because there were women in short skirts (I'm classy like that). Am absolutely convinced to this day that Louis Theroux was the groom.

We also walked past a load of news crews set up outside a court because it was the day that the verdict was announced in the John Terry football racism case.

Busy day.
 
Gaz said:
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright.

HBO made a documentary of this a few years ago and I was fascinated by how bonkers it was. Anyway, finally bought the book and yeah, it's still bonkers. Only a third of the way through it and a lot of the actual explanations of Scientology "beliefs" have gone straight over my head but seeing some of the stuff they've attempted over the years, such as "Operation Freakout" is frankly, scary.

It's strangely fascinating reading about L Ron Hubbard - for the life of me, I can't figure out if he was just a liar and fraudster or if he really believed in what he was peddling.
Click to expand...
There was a well known doco which has mysteriously "disappeared". It was an interview with L Ron Hubbard regarding his books and sci-fi in general. I will always remember when he was asked about how much money he made from his sci-fi writings. His reply was that he wouldn't say how much he made but he had realised that if anybody wanted to make REAL money just start your own religion.
2 years later "Scientology" was born notworthy;
 
Gaz said:
Haven't seen that one, will have to see if it's on any of the streaming services.

Random fact - there's an excellent chance I'm in the background of his wedding pictures. ABout seven or eight years ago I went to see Soundgarden in Hyde Park and as we walked there past some kind of local council offices a wedding party came out and we stopped to stare because there were women in short skirts (I'm classy like that). Am absolutely convinced to this day that Louis Theroux was the groom.

We also walked past a load of news crews set up outside a court because it was the day that the verdict was announced in the John Terry football racism case.

Busy day.
Click to expand...
It was a very good doco by Theroux which really did his head in, it was streaming on Netflix and should still be in there.
 
Gaz said:
Only a third of the way through it and a lot of the actual explanations of Scientology "beliefs" have gone straight over my head but seeing some of the stuff they've attempted over the years, such as "Operation Freakout" is frankly, scary.
Click to expand...

Jeez, I knew they were crazy but didn't realise quite how crazy!
 
For anyone interested, a soon to be released book popped up on my amazon "you might be interested.." thing - "Alone at Dawn" by Dan Schilling.

It's about USAF CCT T/Sgt John Chapman, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Roberts Ridge/The Battle of Takur Ghar.

The main reason I noticed it is that I read the book of "Black Hawk Down" repeatedly when it came out and recognised Dan Schilling's name - he was a CCT himself who featured prominently in the book. It's released in the UK on 15/08/19.
 
Goodbye Darkness. William Manchester. One of the best written first person accounts of combat in the Pacific and insight into the emotional toll it takes.
 
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